Chapter 26: Not Even a Little Interested?

Meng Linna got the dagger for self-defense against close-range monsters.

Thanks to Peggy’s reliability, she’d only used it for cooking.

Today, it drew blood.

Her own.

Honestly, a dagger through her palm didn’t hurt as much as she’d feared.

If she didn’t move.

Okay, she was bluffing.

The pain was killing her.

Suppressing it, she gave Yi Xing a sweaty smile.

“Well? Don’t believe me? Come see for yourself.”

“Hah, haha… a fake trick, right? I’ll expose you.”

Yi Xing mustered courage.

It had to be an illusion.

Meng Linna’s act was too real.

Backing down now would mean falling for it.

She stepped forward, grabbed the dagger’s handle, and yanked.

Warm blood splattered her face.

Yi Xing, who stayed at the back during jobs and avoided gore, had never seen blood.

She was only an adventurer to flirt.

“Huh?”

The handle’s warm blood wasn’t fake.

“No way someone would really stab themselves!”

Squeamish, Yi Xing let go and fainted.

“Hiss!”

Yi Xing’s rough pull hit the wound.

Meng Linna’s calm facade crumbled.

Pain warped her face.

But it convinced the crowd she wasn’t acting.

“Any kind volunteer to check the wound? I’m in agony.”

She wanted to drink the potion.

But to prove it wasn’t a show, she held on.

“No problem! Drink it!”

The nosy mage kept projecting.

Everyone saw: Meng Linna wasn’t faking.

“Since you all say so, I’ll drink!”

She grabbed the potion and chugged.

***

Na Naya, leaving the archive after an afternoon, heard a huge cheer from the tavern.

“What’s the noise about?”

She placed the archive key on the desk, casually asking Miao Miao Niya.

Miao Miao Niya didn’t look up, stowing the key.

“Seems Miss Meng Linna’s drumming up business.”

“Oh.”

Na Naya nodded, glancing toward the tavern.

The projection magic continued.

Na Naya saw Meng Linna, surrounded by adventurers, chatting happily.

Was she really just doing business?

“You care about her?”

Miao Miao Niya grinned gossipily.

“Don’t know if it’s fate or someone’s plan, but you two keep running into each other. Even on jobs.”

“Your bad taste. I’m not that interested.”

Na Naya kept her face blank.

With Miao Miao Niya’s sly nature, any expression would fuel her smugness.

“Not even a little interested?”

“…”

Na Naya went quiet.

As Miao Miao Niya opened her mouth to press, Na Naya looked back at the tavern.

“Saying I’m not interested at all isn’t true. She’s a disgraced nun. Used her dad’s clout to dodge punishment.”

Na Naya gave a gentle smile.

“If I could, I’d make her atone.”

Seeing that smile, Miao Miao Niya realized her mistake.

Na Naya might be kind, but not to everyone.

Meng Linna was in for a rough time.

Miao Miao Niya was sure.

“Good luck, miao?”

***

Though Yi Xing accused Meng Linna of using trustees, she was the biggest one.

Without her opposition, the crowd wouldn’t have gathered.

Everyone loves a catfight.

The potion’s effect was solid.

Meng Linna’s remaining stock sold out.

She earned over fifty silver coins.

Staring at the coin pile, she felt dazed.

“Maybe I should just make potions?”

Adventurers’ incomes varied wildly.

Like web novelists.

Some earned nothing beyond base pay.

Others bagged fortunes.

Skilled adventurers made hundreds of gold per job.

Low-ranks like Meng Linna?

A silver a day was good.

Adventuring’s ceiling was high.

But she always hit the floor.

She decided quickly.

“Buy alchemy gear and materials.”

To sell potions, she couldn’t leak the recipe.

The ingredients were cheap.

Knockoffs would ruin her.

Driven by money, her action was swift.

***

Next morning, Meng Linna went to the guild.

She scanned the job board, pretending.

Then asked Miao Miao Niya about teammates, feigning interest.

No luck on either.

Her adventurer day ended early.

She set up a stall in the hall, selling potions made overnight.

Thanks to yesterday’s projected stunt, her potions were a hit.

Adventurers bought pairs.

To avoid blocking traffic, she moved to a corner.

Funny thing?

Yi Xing, her biggest critic, bought a bunch.

She noticed Meng Linna’s hand had no scar.

Meng Linna hated her.

But money was money.

She’d get even later.

Her vengeful side schemed.